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You're paying for the style
11 years ago
Important Blah
One thing I don't believe people look into when observing various artists they commission is that its not just Price, Toony, Realism, or time taken.
With every artist you commission (Even for something of a realistic persuasion) They will have a varying style compared to what you will find from another artist. This in the furry fandom is as true for fursuits and sculptures as it is for 2D methods of work.
There is of course a certain line that can be drawn when style is being compared to a lack of understanding on how structure of something might work. There is a difference between intentional disproportionate art for the sake of design over winging it with a pose. Artists charge based on what they value their work and in some cases there are outragous prices.
I have seen people charge $50 + for a still, flat color, toony icon. Yet- on the odd occasion it will sell!
Not everyone will value an artists work the same as the artist him/herself. Thats why sometimes people consider it a great deal to pay hundreds of dollars for a specific artist while others consider it a crime and complete rip off for any completed work over $20
Then again, sometimes people are just cheap.
Basically this little rant came from an individual recently who requested a quote on a commission from me and when I gave them an undesirable price they linked me to someone who they thought "Could do it better" for a lower price. (I would like to note they were very rude saying I should not be charging higher than this person who was exceedingly better than myself.)
I actually contacted that artist shortly after leaving them a message simply because they were severely undercharging their work.
When looking for an artist to commission I understand price is a big game changer. And on occasion there are people who do overcharge and undercharge but typically if an artist is getting commissions regularly for something you wouldn't pay half their listing price for its only because your tastes in art differ from those other individuals.
That being said there are always specific cases and this is all subjective.
Just dont be a dick to artists. We are often underpaid as it is. If someone is content with their prices and getting work regularly you aren't doing them any favors by asking them to lower their prices.
I really don't know how hard this is for people to understand.
With every artist you commission (Even for something of a realistic persuasion) They will have a varying style compared to what you will find from another artist. This in the furry fandom is as true for fursuits and sculptures as it is for 2D methods of work.
There is of course a certain line that can be drawn when style is being compared to a lack of understanding on how structure of something might work. There is a difference between intentional disproportionate art for the sake of design over winging it with a pose. Artists charge based on what they value their work and in some cases there are outragous prices.
I have seen people charge $50 + for a still, flat color, toony icon. Yet- on the odd occasion it will sell!
Not everyone will value an artists work the same as the artist him/herself. Thats why sometimes people consider it a great deal to pay hundreds of dollars for a specific artist while others consider it a crime and complete rip off for any completed work over $20
Then again, sometimes people are just cheap.
Basically this little rant came from an individual recently who requested a quote on a commission from me and when I gave them an undesirable price they linked me to someone who they thought "Could do it better" for a lower price. (I would like to note they were very rude saying I should not be charging higher than this person who was exceedingly better than myself.)
I actually contacted that artist shortly after leaving them a message simply because they were severely undercharging their work.
When looking for an artist to commission I understand price is a big game changer. And on occasion there are people who do overcharge and undercharge but typically if an artist is getting commissions regularly for something you wouldn't pay half their listing price for its only because your tastes in art differ from those other individuals.
That being said there are always specific cases and this is all subjective.
Just dont be a dick to artists. We are often underpaid as it is. If someone is content with their prices and getting work regularly you aren't doing them any favors by asking them to lower their prices.
I really don't know how hard this is for people to understand.
Commission Progress
"Falling Fox Scene" Full Color Multi Character PAID (Flats complete Shading Next)
"Falling Fox Scene" Full Color Multi Character PAID (Flats complete Shading Next)
and I know 'toon' artists who charge and get paid hundreds of dollars, some of them a little over a thousand per piece.
I personally charge hundreds of dollars for my work, and it does sell, but I do not post my prices publicly (usually) because I know how some people react to it. I have been treated very well on most occasions, but I know as soon as I start posting prices publicly (after dealing at AC) I will get some bad reactions.
My response will be something similar to this 'While I respect your opinion, I know how much time I take on my work, and I want to be paid accordingly, no one is trying to force you to pay these prices there are plenty of more talented artists than me charging a lower price, I suggest you look into one of them.'
The fact they're posting at all about it means they want something from you, they're just too cheap to pay it, it's bothersome, but hopefully they'll learn. It would be nice if all artists charged what they were worth, I think it would change things overall, but I understand how it is, sometimes I still take commissions for peanuts just because I need the money, or weirdly enough I want to work for someone.
I hope you don't let it get to you too much, you're worth much more than you charge.
kinda sucks
but even still with a style more... hmmm how do you say character driven? Like bigger eyes, more relatable and such you can still command higher prices, there's many examples Nek0gami, Zaush, Strype, Hoot, and many many more that get paid a very decent wage for what they do.
When I was around your age I had prices similar to yours, I think a lot of it is just about experience, like I'm in no way better than you at art but a lot of it is about reputation as well as the work itself. And it takes a while to build it up, and right now it's easier for cheap people to think they own you. There's no excuse for it, hopefully they will learn, even as an artist myself when I was younger I saw prices around $10-20 bucks for a full piece, so I kind of thought that was the norm and was okay, so I hope those people learn eventually, though it sucks to deal with them, not sure if you are or not, but don't let them get to you.
Your time is worth a lot, no matter what style you do. I saw a comic about a guy giving a logo design to a client, and the client says 'why should I pay you so much for this it only took you 10 minutes' the artist replies 'no it took me 10 years and 10 minutes' Your product is unique, it is special, it is worth something, and no one else has it, it took your lifetime of experiences and influences to make it what it is.